625_The God who sees our intentions (Proverbs 15:11)
Proverbs 15:11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
how much more the hearts of the children of man!
A businessman once installed security cameras throughout his home after a series of neighborhood thefts. From his phone, he could see every movement at his front door, in his driveway, and even inside his living room. One evening, reviewing footage, he noticed something unexpected: while the cameras captured every outward action, they revealed nothing about motives. A visitor who appeared polite on camera later turned out to have come with dishonest intent, while another guest who looked nervous and awkward had actually come to return a lost wallet. The cameras recorded behavior, but they could not reveal the heart.
Human observation works the same way. We see actions, words, and appearances, but motives remain hidden. Only God sees deeper. Proverbs 15:11 reminds us that even the unseen realm lies open before Him—how much more, then, the hidden intentions within every human heart. What remains invisible to people is perfectly clear to God, who knows not only what we do but why we do it. And this truth invites us to reflect seriously on the condition of our own hearts before the God who sees all. The verse reminds us of one of the most sobering and yet comforting truths about God: His omniscience. Nothing escapes His knowledge.
Sheol refers to the realm of the dead, the unseen domain beyond human reach and understanding. Abaddon, meaning destruction or ruin, represents places associated with decay and death—realities hidden from human exploration and control. We cannot investigate these mysteries; we cannot pierce the veil between life and death. Yet God sees them completely. The unseen world, the realm beyond human perception, lies fully exposed before Him. Jesus gave us a glimpse of this hidden reality in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, revealing truths about life beyond death that human beings could never have discovered on their own. What lies beyond our knowledge remains open before God.
The proverb then drives home its central message: if even these hidden realms are fully visible to God, how much more are the human hearts He created? Nothing within us is concealed from Him. Our motives, intentions, fears, secret desires, hidden sins, private struggles, and unspoken ambitions are all known to Him. People judge outward behavior, but God evaluates inward reality. We often see performance; God sees purpose.
Psalm 139 beautifully expresses this truth: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me… Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” Long before our words are spoken, God knows them. Before a thought is fully formed, it is already known to Him. Hebrews 4:13 reinforces the same reality: “No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Nothing about us surprises God; nothing catches Him unaware.
Scripture repeatedly shows this intimate knowledge of God. Consider the story of Judah’s son, Onan. What happened in the privacy of his bedroom was unseen by others, even by those nearby or who later recorded the narrative. Yet his actions were not hidden from God. The Lord saw what human eyes could not and judged accordingly. This reminds us that privacy before people does not mean secrecy before God.
Another striking example occurs when Samuel visits Jesse’s house to anoint the future king. Seeing Jesse’s eldest son, tall and impressive, Samuel assumes he must be God’s chosen one. But God corrects him, saying, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” One by one, the impressive sons pass by and are rejected until David, the overlooked shepherd boy, is summoned. God chooses David not because of outward appearance but because He sees the heart. Divine evaluation is rooted in inner character rather than external impression.
The ministry of Jesus also reveals this penetrating knowledge of human hearts. In Mark chapter 2, friends lower a paralyzed man through a roof so that Jesus can heal him. Instead of immediately addressing the physical need, Jesus declares, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Religious teachers present in the room silently accuse Him of blasphemy in their hearts. Before they utter a word, Jesus responds to their unspoken thoughts: “Why do you question these things in your hearts?” He then heals the man to demonstrate His authority. Thoughts hidden from everyone else were completely open to Him.
David, near the end of his life, passed this understanding to his son Solomon. He urged him to serve God sincerely, saying that the Lord searches every heart and understands every plan and thought. Jeremiah echoes this when God says, “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways.” The message is clear: God is deeply concerned with what happens inside us. Our intentions matter more to Him than our outward performance.
We often judge people based on words and actions, but God goes deeper. He evaluates motives and intentions. Proverbs 21:2 observes, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.” We easily justify ourselves, convincing ourselves that our actions are reasonable. But God measures what truly motivates us.
This truth carries both warning and comfort. It warns us because our secret sins are not secret to God. Religious performance cannot hide hypocrisy. We may fool others with outward spirituality while harboring pride, resentment, greed, or hidden sin within. But nothing escapes His gaze. Life is lived before an all-seeing God.
At the same time, this truth comforts sincere believers. There are moments when good intentions are misunderstood, when integrity is questioned, or when quiet sacrifices go unnoticed. Sometimes we serve faithfully and receive no appreciation. At other times, our motives are misjudged, and people assume the worst about us. In such moments, we remember that God sees what others cannot. He knows the sincerity of our hearts even when people misunderstand us.
True spirituality begins when we stop pretending before God. Instead of trying to impress Him with outward acts, we come honestly, praying, “Lord, search my heart and correct what is wrong.” Transparency before God is the starting point of transformation. When we allow Him to examine us, He cleanses and reshapes our inner life.
There is also a practical reality we must remember: what happens in our hearts eventually flows outward. Words and actions are the overflow of inner life. Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. If pride, bitterness, or impurity dominate our hearts, they will eventually appear in our speech and behavior. Conversely, when God renews the heart, kindness, humility, and love naturally emerge.
Therefore, Proverbs 15:11 calls us not merely to fear God’s knowledge but to live honestly before Him. Instead of hiding, we should invite His light into every corner of our hearts. When we confess hidden sins, seek forgiveness, and ask for renewal, He graciously works within us. The God who sees our intentions is also the God who heals, forgives, and restores.
As we reflect on this truth, the practical application becomes clear. We must examine our motives regularly. Why do we serve? Why do we give? Why do we speak or act as we do? Are we seeking God’s approval or human praise? Do we harbor secret sins while maintaining a respectable outward appearance? Or do we come before God with honesty, asking Him to purify our hearts?
Let us also find comfort in knowing that God sees faithful obedience even when no one else does. When acts of kindness go unnoticed, when prayers seem unheard by people, when sacrifices are hidden, God sees. Nothing offered to Him in sincerity is wasted.
A wise response, therefore, is not fear but honesty. Each day, we can pray, “Lord, search my heart. Remove what displeases You. Purify my motives. Help my outward life reflect an inward devotion to You.” When our hearts are right before God, our actions will naturally follow.
Proverbs 15:11 reminds us that life is lived before an all-seeing God. Nothing is hidden—not our failures, not our fears, not even our sincere desire to follow Him. The invitation is simple and profound: live transparently before Him, and allow Him to purify the heart from which all actions flow. When we do, we discover not only accountability but also the deep assurance that the God who sees everything also loves us completely and works within us to make us whole. God bless.